the decameron(十日谈)-第150章

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good　service　indeede；　and　I　know　a　Noble　Gentleman　of　this　Cittie；　who
is　named　Egano：　he　will　（without　all　question）　accept　your　offer；
for　hee　keepeth　many　men　of　verie　good　deserving；　and　you　shall　have
my　furtherance　therein　so　much　as　may　be。　As　he　promised；　so　he
performed；　and　taking　Anichino　with　him　unto　Egano：　so　farre　he
prevailed　by　his　friendly　protestations；　and　good　opinion　of　the　young
Gentleman；　that　Anichino　was　（without　more　ado）　accepted　in　Eganoes
service；　then　which；　nothing　could　be　more　pleasing　to　him。　Now　had　he
the　benefit　of　dayly　beholding　his　hearts　Mistresse；　and　so　acceptable
proved　his　service　to　Egano；　that　he　grew　very　farre　in　love　with　him：
not　undertaking　any　affayres　whatsoever；　without　the　advice　and
direction　of　Anichino；　so　that　he　reposed　his　most　especiall　trust
in　him；　as　a　man　altogether　governed　by　him。
　　It　fortuned　upon　a　day；　that　Egano　being　ridden　to　flye　his　Hawke　at
the　River；　and　Anichino　remaining　behinde　at　home；　Madame　Beatrix；　who
（as　yet）　had　taken　no　notice　of　Anichinoes　love　to　her　（albeit　her
selfe；　observing　his　faire　carriage　and　commendable　qualities；　was
highly　pleased　to　have　so　seeming　a　servant）　called　him　to　play　at　the
Chesse　with　her：　and　Anichino；　coveting　nothing　more　then　to　content
her；　carried　himselfe　so　dexteriously　in　the　game；　that　he　permitted
hir　still　to　win；　which　was　no　little　joy　to　her。　When　all　the
Gentlewomen；　and　other　friends　there　present；　as　spectators　to
behold　their　play；　had　taken　their　farewell；　and　were　departed；
leaving　them　all　alone；　yet　gaming　still：　Anichino　breathing　forth
an　intire　sigh；　Madame　Beatrix　looking　merrily　on　him；　said。　Tell　me
Anichino；　art　not　thou　angrie；　to　see　me　win？　It　should　appeare　so
by　that　solemne　sigh。　No　truly　Madame；　answered　Anichino；　a　matter
of　farre　greater　moment；　then　losse　of　infinite　games　at　the　Chesse；
was　the　occasion　why　I　sighed。　I　pray　thee　（replyed　the　Lady）　by　the
love　thou　bearest　me；　as　being　my　Servant　（if　any　love　at　all　remain
in　thee　towards　me）　give　me　a　reason　for　that　harty　sigh。
　　When　he　heard　himselfe　so　severely　conjured；　by　the　love　he　bare
to　her；　and　loved　none　else　in　the　world　beside：　he　gave　a　farre
more　hart…sicke　sigh；　then　before。　Then　his　Lady　and　Mistresse
entreated　him　seriously；　to　let　her　know　the　cause　of　those　two
deepe　sighes：　whereto　Anichino　thus　replyed。　Madam；　if　I　should　tell
you；　I　stand　greatly　in　feare　of　offending　you：　and　when　I　have　told
you；　I　doubt　your　discovery　thereof　to　some　other。　Beleeve　me　Anichino
（quoth　she）　therein　thou　neither　canst；　or　shalt　offend　me。
Moreover；　assure　thy　selfe；　that　I　will　never　disclose　it　to　any
other；　except　I　may　do　it　with　thy　consent。　Madame　（saide　hee）
seeing　you　have　protested　such　a　solemne　promise　to　mee；　I　will
reveale　no　meane　secret　unto　you。
　　So；　with　teares　standing　in　his　eyes；　he　told　her　what　he　was；　where
he　heard　the　first　report　of　her　singular　perfections；　and　instantly
becam　enamored　of　her；　as　the　maine　motive　of　his　entring　into　her
service。　Then；　most　humbly　he　entreated　her；　that　if　it　might　agree
with　her　good　liking；　she　would　be　pleased　to　commisserate　his　case；
and　grace　him　with　her　private　favours。　Or；　if　shee　might　not　be　so
mercifull　to　him；　that　yet　she　would　vouchsafe；　to　let　him　live　in　the
lowly　condition　as　he　did；　and　thinke　it　a　thankefull　duty　in　him；
onely　to　love　her。　O　singular　sweetnesse；　naturally　living　in　faire
feminine　blood！　How　justly　art　thou　worthy　of　praise　in　the　like
occasions？　Thou　couldst　never　be　wonne　by　sighes　and　teares；　but
hearty　imprecations　have　alwayes　prevailed　with　thee；　making　thee
apt　and　easie　to　amorous　desires。　If　I　had　praises　answerable　to　thy
great　and　glorious　deservings；　my　voice　should　never　faint；　nor　my　pen
waxe　weary；　in　the　due　and　obsequious　performance　of　them。
　　Madam　Beatrix；　well　observing　Anichino　when　he　spake；　and　giving
credit　to　his　so　solemne　protestations；　they　were　so　powerfull　in
prevailing　with　her；　that　her　senses　（in　the　same　manner）　were
enchanted；　and　sighes　flew　as　violently　from　her；　as　before　he　had
vented　them：　which　stormy　tempest　being　a　little　over…blowne；　thus　she
spake。　Anichino；　my　hearts　deere　affected　Friend；　live　in　hope；　for
I　tell　thee　truly；　never　could　gifts；　promises；　nor　any　Courtings　used
to　me　by　Lords；　Knights；　Gentlemen；　or　other　（although　I　have　bin
solicited　by　many）　winne　the　lest　grace　or　favour　at　my　hand；　no；
nor　move　me　to　any　affection。　But　thou；　in　a　minute　of　time
（compared　with　their　long　and　tedious　suing）　hast　expressed　such　a
soveraigne　potency　in　thy　sweet　words；　that　thou　hast　made　me　more
thine；　then　mine　owne：　and　beleeve　it　unfeinedly；　I　hold　thee　to　be
worthy　of　my　love。　Wherefore；　with　this　kisse　I　freely　give　it　thee；
and　make　thee　a　further　promise；　that　before　this　night　shall　be　fully
past；　thou　shalt　in　better　manner　perceive　it。　Adventure　into　my
Chamber　about　the　houre　of　midnight；　I　will　leave　the　doore　open：　thou
knowest　on　which　side　of　the　bed　I　use　to　rest；　come　thither　and　feare
not：　if　I　sleep；　the　least　gentle　touch　of　thy　hand　will　wake　me；
and　then　thou　shalt　see　how　much　I　love　thee。　So；　with　a　kinde　kisse
or　two；　the　bargaine　was　concluded；　she　licensing　his　departure　for
that　rime；　and　he　staying　in　hope　of　his　hearts　happinesse；　till　when；
he　thought　every　houre　a　yeare。
　　In　the　meane　while；　Egano　returned　home　from　Hawking；　and　so　soone
as　he　had　supt　（being　very　weary）　he　went　to　bed；　and　his　Ladie
likewise　with　him；　leaving　her　Chamber　doore　open；　according　as　she
had　promised。　At　the　houre　appointed；　Anichino　came；　finding　the　doore
but　easily　put　too；　which　（being　entred）　softly　he　closed　againe；　in
the　same　manner　as　he　found　it。　Going　to　the　beds　side　where　the
Lady　lay；　and　gently　touching　her　brest　with　his　hand；　he　found　her　to
be　awake；　and　perceiving　he　was　come　according　unto　promise；　shee
caught　his　hand　fast　with　hers；　and　held　him　very　strongly。　Then；
turning　（as　she　could）　towards　Egano；　she　made　such　meanes；　as　hee
awaked；　whereupon　she　spake　unto　him　as　followeth。
　　Sir；　yesternight　I　would　have　had　a　fewe　speeches　with　you：　but；
in　regard　of　your　wearinesse　and　early　going　to　bed；　I　could　not
have　any　opportunity。　Now；　this　time　and　place　being　most
convenient；　I　desire　to　bee　resolved　by　you：　Among　all　the　men
retained　into　your　service；　which　of　them　do　you　thinke　to　be　the
best；　most　loyall；　and　worthiest　to　enjoy　your　love？　Egano　answered
thus：　Wife；　why　should　you　move　such　a　question　to　me？　Do　not　you
know；　that　I　never　had　any　servant　heeretofore；　or　ever　shall　have
heereafter；　in　whom　I　reposed　the　like　trust　as　I　have　done；　and　do　in
Anichino？　But　to　what　end　is　this　motion　of　yours？　I　will　tell　you　Sir
（quoth　she）　and　then　be　Judge　your　self；　whether　I　have　reason　to　move
this　question；　or　no。　Mine　opinion　every　way　equalled　yours；
concerning　Anichino；　and　that　he　was　more　just　and　faithfull　to　you；
then　any　could　be　amongest　all　the　rest：　But　Husband；　like　as　where
the　water　runneth　stillest；　the　Foord　is　deepest；　even　so；　his
smooth　lookes　have　beguiled　both　you　and　me。　For；　no　longer　agoe；　then
this　verie　day；　no　sooner　were　you　ridden　foorth　on　Hauking；　but　he
（belike　purposely）　tarrying　at　home；　watching　such　a　leysure　as　best
fitted　his　intent：　was　not　ashamed　to　solicite　mee；　both　to　abuse　your
bed；　and　mine　owne　spotlesse　honor。
　　Moreover；　he　prosecuted　his　impious　purpose　with　such　alluring
perswasions：　that　being　a　weake　woman；　and　not　willing　to　endure
over　many　Amorous　proofes　（onely　to　acquaint　you　with　his　most
sawcie　immodestie；　and　to　revenge　your　selfe　uppon　him　as　best　you
may；　your　selfe　beeing　best　able　to　pronounce　him　guiltie）　I　made
him　promise；　to　meete　him　in　our　Garden；　presently　after
midde…night；　and　to　finde　mee　sitting　under　the　Pine…Tree；　never
meaning　（as　I　am　vertuous）　to　be　there。　But；　that　you　may　know　the
deceite　and　falshoode　of　your　Servant；　I　would　have　you　to　put　on　my
Night…gowne；　my　head　Attire；　and　Chinne…cloath；　and　sitting　but　a
short　while　there　underneath　the　Pine…Tree：　such　is　his　insatiate
desire；　as　he　will　not　faile　to　come；　and　then　you　may　pro